The positive impact of the Guardian Girls Global Karate Project was highlighted in Dublin (Ireland) where Karate’s programme against Gender-Based Violence successfully celebrated its fifth stage of presentations.

Following the highly successful events in Cairo, Guadalajara, Rabat, and Fukuoka, the initiative was introduced in Dublin on the occasion of the final Karate 1-Premier League event of the season. Government officials, participating women, and spectators in Ireland highlighted the efficiency and excellence of the project.

“THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN”

The programme was presented in Dublin by its three creators, the World Karate Federation, the United Nations Population Fund, and the Koyamada International Foundation in an event that was brilliantly organised by the Irish Karate Federation.

The presentation had the participation of the President of the Irish Karate Federation Chris Kelly, the Women in Sport Lead with Sport Ireland Nora Stapleton, the Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan to Ireland Norimasa Yoshida, the President of KIF Nia Lyte, and WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura. The head of UNFPA's London office Monica Ferro participated via video message. 

“This is a very important initiative to promote gender equality and empower women to defend themselves from all forms of gender-based violence across the world,” said Irish Karate Federation President Chris Kelly.

Read more about the presentation of the project in Dublin

From left to right: WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura, the President of the Irish Karate Federation Chris Kelly, Women in Sports lead with Sport Ireland Nora Stapleton, The Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan to Ireland Norimasa Yoshida, and The President of KIF Nia Lyte).

WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENCE SEMINAR IN DUBLIN

A group of over 30 women from the Dublin area participated in the Women’s self-defence seminar, which was held at the Anantara Hotel in Ireland’s capital.

The seminar was headed by WKF Instructor Teresa Garcia with the assistance of local instructors Eimear Porter and Carol Duffy.

 Women in Sport Lead with Sport Ireland Nora Stapleton participated in the seminar and learned ways to use Karate as a tool to prevent situations of Gender-Based Violence.

“I did take part in the Seminar today. We walked through the door and suddenly were thrown onto the mat and straight into it. I think, like everybody here today, I certainly learned something new. And I did feel empowered,” she said.

Women in Sports lead with Sport Ireland Nora Stapleton participated in the seminar. 

DEMONSTRATION OF SELF-DEFENCE TECHNIQUES DURING FINALS OF #KARATE1DUBLIN

A demonstration of Guardian Girls Karate actions was held on Sunday, September 10 during the finals of the Karate 1-Premier League Dublin.

Live to a worldwide viewing audience on hundreds of platforms around the world, the showcase of techniques wrapped up the activities of the project in Dublin. The demonstration was performed by WKF Instructor Teresa Garcia and local instructor Eimear Porter, with the cooperation of Ryan Coleman, Anthony Kelly and Ruaidhri Collins

After the events in Cairo (Egypt), Guadalajara (Spain), Rabat (Morocco), Fukuoka (Japan), and Dublin (Ireland) the “Guardian Girls Global Karate Project” will finish its round of presentations at the Senior World Championships in Budapest (Hungary) from 27 to 28 October.

The project was initiated in October 2022 in Los Angeles (United States) where the Memorandum of Understanding of the programme was signed at the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles by the three creators, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), and the World Karate Federation (WKF).